taassila

10 HOUSES FOR THE FLOOD VICTIMS OF IN AN AROUND BISHRAIL VILLAGES, BENGAL

Bishrail is located near Gangarampur town in the district of Dakshin
Dinajpur in West Bengal. It is 500 Kms north from the state capital of
Calcutta. Claret Seva Sadan Mission belongs to the diocese of Raiganj,
having Bishrail as the main station sharing borders with Mehnidipura
Parish in the west, Rajibpur Parish in the north and Rabuthhada in the
south It has a pre-dominantly Santhal population. Basically it is an
agriculture area and the major crops cultivated in this region are
Paddy, Wheat and Jute.

The history of Claret Seva Sadan goes back to the time of Claret
Vidya Niketan, The then Claretian Minor Seminary for north at Rajibpur
inaugurated on 16th July, 1991. After many wandering
experiences, reflections and disappointments the Community has spotted
out the proposed plot of 10.27 acres in Bishrail on 4th July,
1995. The community of Claret Seva Sadan ventured into the promised
land by putting a full stop to their Passover journey on 13th
August, 1995 when they have tented in a Tin shed. The agreement of this
mission was made with the Bishop of Raiganj for three years. Apart from
the main station Bishrail with 52 families, the Parish has got 18
sub-stations consisting of 375 families in this community.

In June 1996 the community was constituted with three Claretian
members and has animated the activities of Catechist Training, Women’s
Association (Mahila Samithi), Farmer’s Association, Bamboo Handicrafts,
Retreats, Village Tuition Centres etc. A Milestone was set in the
Mission by the construction of a Community Hall on 4th
December, 1996. In 1997, the Community has moved from the Tin shed
residence to the new Community Hall. This time the Community has started
to do a greater work in systematizing the tuition centre for the
Santhal children and helping the homeless with housing projects.

In June 1998, the Community constructed a paddy go down to preserve
the poor farmer’s crops and yielding at the times when the market price
is low. Various village councils are set-up in different sub-stations
in order to make the Santhal Tribal to stand united for their civic
rights and to prevent themselves from the exploitations of the rich and
the high castes. Awareness camps are organized to alert the Santhal
Tribals against any atrocities caused towards them. Regular and
periodic meetings are programmed to voice their grievances. We, The
Claretians, are also pioneering in introducing and implementing Basic
Christian Community Programs in the whole of Raiganj Diocese. As a
curtain raiser two Basic Christian Community units were started on 10th November ’98. This will further help the people to embrace faith and enlighten the spiritual life of the Santhal Tribe.

The project will address the problem of housing of the flood victims.
Without housing women, particularly young women, suffer the worst kinds
of violence and insecurity, and are vulnerable to sexual exploitation
and trafficking. Instances of rape, molestation, and women spending
sleepless nights guarding their young adolescent girls are a common
feature among victims of disaster. In addition to this accessing health
care is a tremendous challenge for the people, especially women. There
are countless incidents of women being denied treatment and turned away
from hospitals.